Arcuate brush arrangement



D. c. ROTH ETAL 3,079,621 ARCUATE BRUSH ARRANGEMENT Original Filed Sept.1l, 1956 fine 2 creme. (ci. rs-iso) This invention relates generally toimprovements in brushes, and more particularly it pertains to a novelarrangement of the bristle tufts thereon. This patent application is adivision of US. Letters Patent 2,974,338 of David C. Roth and Karl H.Florenz, issued March 14, i961, -for Brushes `One object of thisinvention is .to provide a unique brush, the bristle tufts of which tendto alternately gouge or lift the material being brushed and, at the sametime, to sweep the material being brushed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a brush, the bristletufts of which tend to alternatel' gouge or sweep the material beingbrushed and to perform these actions irrespective of the direction thebrush is being moved.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a brush, thebristle tufts of which readily adapt themselves to irregular surfacesand which perform brushing action with a minimum amount of pressure,thus lengthening the life of the bristles.

And another object of this invention is to provide a brush, the bristletufts of which are arranged at an acute angle to the body of the brushirrespective of the shape and/or contour of the surface of the brush.

Still even another object of this invention is to provide a brush inwhich the bristles are mounted as mentioned above and which can be usedeffectively for cleaning cables or similar members, such as tubing.

To provide brush arrangements which are economical t manufacture, andefcient and reliable in operation, are other objects of this invention.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will becomemore apparent from the following specication and single sheet of drawingin which:

FIG. 1 is a Ibottom plan of one embodiment of the brush;

PEG. 2 is a cross-section taken along line 2 2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of the brush of FIG. lillustrating four rows of bristle tufts;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of a preferred embodiment of the brushcomprising this invention;

PG. 5 is a cross-section taken along line 5-5 of FiG. 4; and

PEG. 6 is a cross-section taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

Referring now to FIGS. l, 2, and 3 of the drawing, there is illustratedone embodiment of the brush ld. Tne brush lt? consists of a rectangularshaped body forming a base i3 for mounting a plurality of rows ld, l5,16, and 17 of bristle tufts El thereon. A row of bristle tufts le, d5,16, and i7 is constituted by a plurality of tufts lying along a lineparallel to the line of the transverse axis Of the base 13. Also, it isto be noted that rows ld, l5, lo, and i7 of bristle tufts Li can berepeated any number of times, depending upon the width of the brush 1!de sired. lt is to be noted that the body of the brush forming the base13 can be of other shapes, such as oval, square, triangular, or thelike, and that the rows of tufts ifi, l5, i6, and i7 can be arrangedthereon as described herein.

Each row t4, l5, i6, and 17 of bristle tufts 4 consists of severalIbristle tufts, preferably three or more as shown.

As 'best seen in FIG-3. 2 and 3, the bristle tufts d are set inapertures 6 in the body i3 of the brush itl' at acute angles to planesperpendicular to the base, that is, the plane of the base, said planesbeing parallel to perpendicular planes passing through both thelongitudinal and transverse axes of the body of the brush, with theseangles being so selected that the 'bristle tufts 4 will cross each otherlat substantially the ends thereof.

The acute angle of the bristle tufts 4 and the length of the bristletufts are so selected that these tufts 4 will cross each othersubstantially at or near the ends of the bristle tufts. The bristletufts 4 are arranged at an angle `which is racute to planesperpendicular to the base plane, jsaid planes being parallel toperpendicular planes passing through both the longitudinal as well asthe transverse axes of the body 13 of the brush itl so that when thebrush is operated or moved on a surface, such as a door, in thedirection of one of these axes, it Will cause the rows of bristle tufts4, pointing in the direction of movement along the axis, to gouge orlift the material being brushed; while the adjacent rows of bristletufts d, pointing in the direction opposite to movement of the brushalong the axis, will sweep the material being brushed.

As seen best in FIG. 1, the bristle tufts 4 are also arranged on thebody 13 of the brush it? so that they are contiguous with perpendicularplanes parallel to a perpendicular plane passing through one of thediagonal axes of the base plane of the base 13; while the same row 14 ofthe bristle tufts s is at an acute angle to perpendicular planesparallel to a perpendicular plane passing through the opposite diagonalaxis of the base plane. The bristle tufts of row l5 are arranged on thebody l of the brush 1t? so that they are contiguous with perpendicularplanes parallel to a perpendicular plane passing through one of thediagonal axes of the base plane; while the same row 15 of the bristletufts i is at an acute angle to perpendicular planes parallel to aperpendicular plane passing through the opposite diagonal axis of thebase plane.

Examination of FlG. l of the drawing will show that the planes ofcontiguity of row 14 and row l5 of the bristle tufts d are parallel to aperpendicular plane passing through the diagonal axis A-A. The bristletufts 4 in row 1d point in the direction of the intersection of thediagonal axes A-A' and B-B', while the bristle tufts i in row l5 pointaway from the direction of the intersection of the diagonal axes A-A andB-B.

Further examination of FIG. 1 of the drawing, will show that the bristletufts 4 in row l and row 17 have planes of contiguity parallel to aperpendicular plane passing through diagonal axis B-|B'; and the bristletufts d in row lo and row i7 are at an acute angle to perpendicularplanes parallel to a perpendicular plane passing through the diagonalaxis A-A. The bristle tufts 4- in row lo point in the direction of theintersection of the diagonal aires A-A and B-B, and the bristle tufts 4in row i7 point away from the intersection of the diagonal axes A-A andB-B'. The next four rows of bristle tufts 4i, and succeeding rows offour bristle tufts are arranged in a similar manner. Thus, it can bereadily seen that each two rows of bristle tufts l are alternatelycontiguous to or at an acute angle to perpendicularV planes parallel toperpendicular planes passing through either of the two diagonal axes ofthe body i3 of the brush lil.

Row 14 and row 16 of the bristle tufts 4 could be arranged contiguous toperpendicular planes parallel to a perpendicular plane passing throughone of the diagonal axes of the base plane, and rows 15 and 17 of thebristle tufts d could also be contiguous to perpendicular planesparallel to a perpendicular plane passing through the opposite diagonalaxis of the base plane. Thus, every other row of bristle tufts 4 wouldbe alternately contiguous to or at an acute angle to perpendicularplanes passing through either of the two diagonal axes of the base planeofthe body 13 ofthe brush 10.

tReferring again to FIG. l of the drawing, it is to be noted, forexample, that if the brush is moved along a line parallel to thediagonal axis A-'A and in the direction of A, bristle tufts 4 in row 15will gouge or lift the material being brushed while bristle tufts 4 inrow 14 will sweep or push down the material being brushed. If the `brushl@ is moved along this line in the direction of A', the bristle tufts 4in row 14 will gouge or lift the material being brushed and the bristle.tufts 4 .in row 15 will sweep to push down the material being brushed.If the brush 14B is moved along the line parallel t'o the diagonal axisB--BQ and in the direc-tion of B, the ybristle 'tufts'4 in row 16 willgouge or the material being brushed and the bristle tufts .4 in row 1.7will sweep or push down the material being brushed. 'If the brush 1l) ismoved along this line in the direction 'of B', the bristle 'tufts 4 vinrow 17 will sweep or gouge vor `lift the material being brushed and thebristle tufts 4 in row 16 will sweep or push'down the materialbeingbrushed.

Thus, upon operating the brush 10 in the direction `of one of thediagonal 'axes will cusefcertain bristle tufts 4 to gouge or lift thematerial being brushed, while the adjacent bristle tu'fts `sweep thematerial being brushed.

The gouging or lifting action of certain bristle tufts 4 of the lbrush10 have an action of 'such nature that the pressure necessary forbrushing a Asurface .is greatly lessened, thereby reducing the tendencytoward 'crinkling'and Vdeforming of the bristles. This reduced pressureon the bristles also has the desirable result of Vgreatly lengtheningthe life vof the bristles and the'brush 10.

The gouging or lifting action lof certain bristle tufts 4 has nodamaging elfect on thematerial being brushed due to the fact thatadjacent bristle tufts 14 have a 'counter action of sweeping or pushingdown the material lifted.

It is to be particularly noted that the bristle tufts can be arrangedatan vacute angle to the body 13 of the 'brush 10h-respective of theshape fand/'or contour ofthe surface thereof. It'isalso to be noted thatthe ibase 13 of the brush 1u can be formed of wood, .plastic or metal,while the bristles forming the bristle tufts 4 can be formed of nylon,hair, wire or the like.

.Referring now -to FIGS. 4, 5, and '6 of therdrawing, there isillustrated a preferred 'embodiment 'of a brush l1 comprising 'thisinvention. This embodiment 'of the brush 1-1 can be used eiectivelytoclean cables or tubing used for supporting hanging bridges or .the like.

This brush 11 consists of vtv'v'substantially curved 'sections 36 and 3Swhich are `arranged to be connected together by a hinge adjusting device12. Each curved section 36 or 3S has at least two tingerseach 32 and 34,respectively, for vpivotally connecting 'one section to the other by ahinge pin 30 which passes through the iingers 32 and 34.

The adjusting devices 12 consists of an adjusting screw 28 havingahandle "1 at yone end `for moving the adjusting screw. Suitable blockmembers 59 and'SZ are provided on 'each curved section '36 and,respectively, and are attached `thereto T'by screws. These block members50 and 52 support the adjusting screw 28, las shown. Block'member Sllhasa cavity`22 provided therein to contain a collar 20 formed on t'neadjusting screw 2-8` near the end of the handle 1S. The purpose of thiscollar 29 is to preventexcessive movement of the screw device.

A cavity 54 is also provided in block 5-2 for .receiving a ball 24having va threaded lhole 26 provided therein for receiving the end oftheadjusting screw .2lb opposite the handle end thereof. A n I j Rows ofbristle V4tufts 4i), '-'arrange'd as previously 'described, are mountedin'apertures'inthe'curved (cylindrical) rsurfaces of sections dand 38.'Y

By moving thescrewZS-in `th'eball socketl 24, the sections 36 and 38,including vthebristle tufts, can be moved either toward or away fromeach other to adjust for the size of the cable, tubing, or railing thatis being cleaned. The brush 11 is operated by-moving it back and forthand around the curved object being cleaned.

While 4but two general forms of the invention are shown in the drawing`and described in the specicatiom.

v gated base formed of two substantially quadrant shaped cylindricalsections, each said section of said base having a mating end and a freeend, and means for pivotally connecting said sections together at saidmating ends to form a continuous semi-cylindrical interior surface forsaid base, said free ends of said section lying in a common plane andbeing diametrically opposite from each other, said base having alongitudinal axis extending lengthwise thereof and a transverse axisarranged .perpendicular thereto, both of said axes being positioned insaid common plane passing through said diametrically and oppositelypositioned free Yend of said sections, .a grouping of at least fourparallelvrows of brustle tufts arranged on said base, each row ofbristle tufts consisting of plurality of parallel spaced tufts, saidrows of bristle tufts being secured to said interior surface of saidsections forming said base at acute angles to planes which are parallelto planes which contain said longitudinal and transverse axes `of saidbase and which are also perpendicular to said common plane kcontaining.said longitudinal and transverse Vaxes, said rows of bristle tufts alsobeing arranged soV that in` said grouping of four rows of bristle tufts,the tufts of` an outer row of said lfour rows :of bristle tufts arearranged substantially parallel to a diagonal plane perpendicular tosaid common plane of said base, with the bristle tufts of the adjacentrow of bristle tufts` also being parallel -to said vdiagonal plane but`extending in the opposite direction, the other two vrows of said`grouping of four rows of bristle tufts being similarly arranged withrespect to a second opposite diagonal plane perpendicular to said commonplane of said base, with the ends of said bristle tufts 'being `locatedin a substantially cylindrical shaped surface, whereby the -rows Iofbristle tufts `Vwill lalternately gouge and sweep the material beingbrushed, irrespective of the direction of movement of said brusharrangement.

2. An arcuate brush arrangement, comprising, van elongated base formed-of -two substantially quadrant shaped cylindrical sections, each saidsection of said base having a mating end and a free end, means forpivotally connecting said sections together at -said mating ends toA'form .a continuous semi-cylindrical interior surface for said'base,said free ends of said section lying in a common plane and beingdiametrically opposite from each other, said base having a longitudinalaxis extending lengthwise thereof and a transverse axis yarrangedperpendicular thereto, both of said-axes being positioned ins-aid commonplane passing through Vsaid diametrically and oppositely V.positionedfree ends of said sections, a grouping of at least four parallel rows ofbristle tufts arranged on said base, each row of bristle tuftsconsisting of a plurality of parallel spaced tufts, said rows of bristletufts being secured to said interior surface ofsaid sections formingsaidbase at acute angles to planes which are parallel to planes whichcontain said longitudinal and transverse axes of said base and which arealso perpendicular to said common plane .containing said longitudinaland transverse axes, .said rows of bristle tufts also being arranged sothat in said grouping o'f four rows of bristle tufts, the tufts of anouter row of said four rows of bristle tufts are arranged -substantiallyparallel to a diagonal plane perpendicular to said common plane of saidbase, with -the bristle tufts of the adjacent row of bristle tufts alsobeing parallel to said diagonal plane but extending in the oppositedirection, the other two rows of said grouping of four rows of bristletufts being similarly arranged with respect to a second oppositediagonal plane perpendicular to said common plane of said base, with theends of said bristle tufts being located in a substantially cylindricalshaped surface, whereby the rows of bristle tufts will alternately gougeand sweep the material being brushed, irrespective of the direction ofmovement of said brush arrangement, and means including a ball andsocket mechanism for adjusting said sections toward as well as away fromeach other for use in cleaning curved surfaces of various dimensionsReferences Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,822,561 Rowley Feb. 11, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 279,248 Great BritainOct. 27, 1927 633,556 Germany July 30, 1956

1. AN ARCUATE BRUSH ARRANGEMENT, COMPRISING, AN ELONGATED BASE FORMED OFTWO SUBSTANTIALLY QUADRANT SHAPED CYLINDRICAL SECTIONS, EACH SAIDSECTION OF SAID BASE HAVING A MATING END AND A FREE END, AND MEANS FORPIVOTALLY CONNECTING SAID SECTIONS TOGETHER AT SAID MATING ENDS TO FORMA CONTINUOUS SEMI-CYLINDRICAL INTERIOR SURFACE FOR SAID BASE, SAID FREEENDS OF SAID SECTION LYING IN A COMMON PLANE AND BEING DIAMETRICALLYOPPOSITE FROM EACH OTHER, SAID BASE HAVING A LONGITUDINAL AXIS EXTENDINGLENGTHWISE THEREOF AND A TRANSVERSE AXIS ARRANGED PERPENDICULAR THERETO,BOTH OF SAID AXES BEING POSITIONED IN SAID COMMON PLANE PASSING THROUGHSAID DIAMETRICALLY AND OPPOSITELY POSITIONED FREE END OF SAID SECTIONS,A GROUPING OF AT LEAST FOUR PARALLEL ROWS OF BRUSTLE TUFTS ARRANGED ONSAID BASE, EACH ROW OF BRISTLE TUFTS CONSISTING OF PLURALITY OF PARALLELSPACED TUFTS, SAID ROWS OF BRISTLE TUFTS BEING SECURED TO SAID INTERIORSURFACE OF SAID SECTIONS FORMING SAID BASE AT ACUTE ANGLES TO PLANESWHICH ARE PARALLEL TO PLANES WHICH CONTAIN SAID LONGITUDINAL ANDTRANSVERSE AXES OF SAID BASE AND WHICH ARE ALSO PERPENDICULAR TO SAIDCOMMON PLANE CONTAINING SAID LONGITUDINAL AND TRANSVERSE AXES, SAID ROWSOF BRISTLE TUFTS ALSO BEING ARRANGED SO THAT IN SAID GROUPING OF FOURROWS OF BRISTLE TUFTS, THE TUFTS OF AN OUTER ROW OF SAID FOUR ROWS OFBRISTLE TUFTS ARE ARRANGED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO A DIAGONAL PLANEPERPENDICULAR TO SAID COMMON PLANE OF SAID BASE, WITH THE BRISTLE TUFTSOF THE ADJACENT ROW OF BRISTLE TUFTS ALSO BEING PARALLEL TO SAIDDIAGONAL PLANE BUT EXTENDING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, THE OTHER TWOROWS OF SAID GROUPING OF FOUR ROWS OF BRISTLE TUFTS BEING SIMILARLYARRANGED WITH RESPECT TO A SECOND OPPOSITE DIAGONAL PLANE PERPENDICULARTO SAID COMMON PLANE OF SAID BASE, WITH THE ENDS OF SAID BRISTLE TUFTSBEING LOCATED IN A SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL SHAPED SURFACE, WHEREBY THEROWS OF BRISTLE TUFTS WILL ALTERNATELY GOUGE AND SWEEP THE MATERIALBEING BRUSHED, IRRESPECTIVE OF THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID BRUSHARRANGEMENT.